THE WAR ON TERROR
KILLED or CAPTURED or KIA/BNR

See also Gulf War II

Date of Announcement

Names

Cause of Casualty

Total estimate: 126

Only 118 remains were recovered....*

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=679&ncid=742&e=14&u=/usatoday/20030715/cm_usatoday/5322605

Mother finds true grieving begins after cameras leave
Tue Jul 15, 6:35 AM ET  Add Op/Ed - USA TODAY to My Yahoo!
 
Ruth Voshell Stonesifer

My son, Kristofor T. Stonesifer, was one of the first two soldiers to die in the war on terror. He was killed Oct. 19, 2001 in a helicopter crash during a rescue mission near Kandahar, Afghanistan (news - web sites). I knew when his name was officially released that the media would be hot on our trail to find out everything they could about my son. After all, his death happened during America's first installment of ''payback'' for 9/11.

I envisioned the picture on the cover of some national news magazine: My family and I would be lined up quietly witnessing the flag-draped casket of my son being carried to a hearse by his fellow Army Rangers. Americans would see the dignity and honor afforded a hero returning home after giving his life for his country.

In other words, I almost fell victim to the American obsession with fame.

Fortunately, I had a more valuable experience, one I am reminded of whenever I hear another news report of a U.S. soldier being killed in Iraq (news - web sites): I learned that true grieving begins after the TV lights go out and the media move on.

After Kris' death, I knew instinctively that chaos would rain down on my family if I appeared on the early morning talk shows. I saw these live interviews as a diversion from our family's need to remain strong and focused on preparing for Kris' memorial.

One of the best

My son had volunteered three times to be halfway around the world, first to join the Army, then to become a Ranger and finally to go on this rescue mission -- while I thought he was safely sleeping in Georgia. His platoon leader told me later that he chose the best men to go that night. Kris must have been proud to be one of the few to climb aboard that Black Hawk helicopter.

But despite his bravery, Kris was a quiet and shy person who recoiled from undue attention. I'm sure he would have had such a laugh if we had done a ''crying tour'' of TV interviews -- so we didn't. Still, I was astounded as cameramen filmed our front door, mailbox, lawn and garage door.

The only time I thought I would be unable to control the cameras was at the Philadelphia airport, where my son's flag-draped casket was returned to us by a Ranger honor guard. So I prepared for the ''perfect'' media picture of a family steeped in military tradition. There would be Kris' father, a retired Navy captain, and my oldest son, Ric, an Army warrant officer. My brother, John, who flew an A-7 in Vietnam, would don his old uniform. And, of course, the Rangers from Savannah, Ga., would salute my son as he was carried off the plane. If the world had to witness anything publicly about our family, I thought, it would be how proud we were of him and his service.

Facing reality

Here's what really happened at the airport: After a long wait, we walked to the dark open cargo door of an enormous plane. We turned to face one lone video camera that the 75th Ranger Regiment was using to document the ceremony for Kris' battalion.

To my surprise, there were no national or local media cameras, even though the public affairs office had notified the media. Kris must have been laughing at his mother's ''all in vain'' planning and worrying. But my thoughts were in turmoil. Had America lost interest already? Was my son's death old news? How would Kris' legacy be documented?

After Kris' casket had been secured in the hearse and I could focus my eyes elsewhere, I noticed that what had been a busy construction site next to us was quiet. With a start, I realized that all activity in the area had stopped. Every construction worker, every security guard, every person within sight of this small, simple ceremony had come to a standstill, paying respect for this fallen soldier. Many were saluting.

They may not have known my son's name, but they knew that a soldier who had died in defense of his country was coming home to his family. I was grateful that I could see through my tears and witness this poignant tribute.

I started out thinking a magazine cover was what I needed to move on. But I discovered I would rather have the respect of a few strangers on a runway than the empathy of an entire nation.


Ruth Voshell Stonesifer, who lives in Kintnersville, Pa., is writing a book about her experiences and the life and death of her son.

Search and rescue efforts continued for more than two days before being halted on Friday. The USS Kitty Hawk is currently participating in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Engineman 1st Class Vincent Parker, 38, of Preston, Miss., 

Electronics Technician 3rd Class Benjamin Johnson, 21, of Rochester, N.Y. 

Whitaker was assigned to the USS Russell (DDG 59), a Pearl Harbor based guided missile  destroyer. (NOTE: on 12/12/2002 the USS Russell provided rescue and recovery for the crew of an Air Force B-1B who had bailed out of their aircraft and into the Indian Ocean during a bombing mission in Afghanistan.)

Radio Operator: Sergeant Jeannette L. Winters, 25, of Du Page, IL. She joined the Marine Corps in 1997.

The Marines are assigned to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352 (VMGR-352), the "Raiders." Elements of VMGR-352 are attached to Combined Task Force 58, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. VMGR-352 is home-based at the Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar, CA.

The cause of the accident is under investigation.

The Marines and the aircraft were assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 (HMH-361), the "Flying Tigers" of Marine Aircraft Group 16. Elements of HMH-361 are attached to Combined Task Force 58 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. HMH-361 is part of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and is home-based at Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar, Calif.

The CH-53E Super Stallion is heavy-lift helicopter designed for the transportation of material, supplies and personnel.

There is no indication of enemy fire at this time; however, the accident is under investigation. 

The accident is under investigation.

Maj. Curtis D. Feistner
Capt. Bartt D. Owens
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jody L. Egnor
Staff Sgt. James P. Dorrity
Staff Sgt. Kerry W. Frith
Staff Sgt. Bruce A. Rushforth, Jr.
Sgt. Jeremy D. Foshee
Spc. Thomas F. Allison

United States Air Force:
Master Sgt. William L. McDaniel II
Staff Sgt. Juan M. Ridout

The eight U.S. Army soldiers are members of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Fort Campbell, Ky. The two U.S. Air Force airmen are assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Group, Kadena Air Base, Japan.

A final determination on the status of these individuals has not yet been made. Search and rescue efforts continue with the U.S. working closely with the Philippine navy and coast guard units. The cause of the accident is under investigation.*

3 remains have been recovered as of 03/05/02
5 more recovered 03/30/02

Tech. Sgt. John A. Chapman, 36, Waco, Texas.
Senior Airman Jason D. Cunningham, 26, Camarillo, Calif.

Lt. Terri Sue Fussner, 27, of Manchester, Mo.; 

Lt. Wayne Francis  Roberts, 34, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; and

 Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 2nd Class Jason Edward Lawson, 21, of Smyrna, Ga.

The crew members, were assigned to Helicopter Squadron Light (HSL) 46, homeported in Mayport, Fla.

UPDATED 06/15/04 with information provided by Leslie Gifford, NY

The crash killed eight Army and two Air Force crewmen. Eight bodies have so far been recovered since the crash. The first three were recovered immediately after the crash.

Sater said the American recovery team, after 10 days of search, had decided to stop the operation, concluding that it would be difficult for them to recover the remaining two bodies.

Staff Sgt. Brian T. Craig, 27, Texas, 710th Explosive Ordnance Detachment, San Diego, Calif.; 

Staff Sgt. Justin. J. Galewski, 28, Kan., 710th Explosive Ordnance Detachment, San Diego, Calif.; 

Sgt. Jamie O. Maugans, 27, Kan., 710th Explosive Ordnance Detachment, San Diego, Calif.; 

Sgt. 1st Class Daniel A. Romero, 30, Colo., 19th Special Forces Group, Pueblo, Colo.

The accident is under investigation.

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Sean M. Corlew, 37, of Thousand Oaks, Calif.

Air Force Staff Sgt. Anissa A. Shero, 31, of Grafton, W.Va.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Peter P. Tycz II, 32, of Tonawanda, N.Y.

Corlew and Shero were assigned to the Air Force's 16th Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Fla.  Tycz was assigned to the Army's 3rd Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, NC.

The four were members of Strike Fighter  Squadron 41, based at Lemoore Naval Air Station near Fresno, California.

Cpl. Jason D. Fisher, 27, of Thousand Oaks, Calif., and Pfc. Joseph P. Favorito III, 20, of Higgins Lake, Mich., 

Fisher and Favorito died Nov. 14 after an M1A1 Abrams tank ran over them during a pre-dawn raid at the Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, La. Both soldiers were from Fort Campbell, Ky.

USATODAY.com
            Posted 3/11/2003 4:25 PM     Updated 3/12/2003 9:15 PM
            Training often as dangerous as war itself
            By Fred Bayles, USA TODAY
            FORT DRUM, N.Y. - The deaths of 11 soldiers here in the crash of an Army Black Hawk helicopter is a reminder that even though a shot hasn't been fired in Iraq, U.S. soldiers are dying in training for war.
            Nine who died in the accident were training for combat while awaiting orders to go to Kuwait.
            The deaths Tuesday brought to 23 the number of soldiers who have died in helicopter training accidents in the first three months of the year. Such deaths numbered 28 for all of last year.
            "We have no problem in dying for our country, but it really hurts when soldiers have to die like this," said Sgt. Daniel Baca of Mount Vernon, N.Y., as he left a military store with equipment he purchased for overseas deployment.
            "Military training is dangerous, but you still ask yourself, 'Why does this have to happen?' "
           The 11 who died at Fort Drum on Tuesday were all active members of the 10th Mountain Division. Two soldiers survived. The survivors have talked with investigators, but no word was given on a possible cause of the crash.
            Flags at the post were lowered to half-staff. A memorial service will be held Friday.
            Fort Drum, located on 167 square miles in Upstate New York, has been  a major training area for reserve units taking part in the build-up  toward war with Iraq. Nearly 500 division soldiers and another 500 reservists have left here for Kuwait in recent weeks.
            Lt. Col. Bryan Hilferty, the division's public affairs officer, said career soldiers often face greater risks in the day-to-day business of training for war than they do in war itself. "You can spend years training for a few days of combat," said Hilferty, a Gulf War veteran.
            People who work and live on and around the base are very familiar with the risks soldiers take in training. Soldiers from Fort Drum have been training for many conflicts in the past 10 years. Members of the 10th Mountain Division, headquartered here, have shipped out from this post for duty in Bosnia, Kosovo, Haiti, Somalia and the Sinai.
            "A soldier realizes they are risking their life any time they put a  uniform on," said Sgt. Paul Merritt, a member of the 10th Mountain Division who spoke while he bought gas at a station near the base. "We train for combat," he said. "Combat is dangerous. Training is dangerous."
            The Black Hawk is the Army's workhorse helicopter. It is used primarily to transport troops and equipment to and from front lines.
            The UH-60 version that went down Tuesday was maneuvering in a remote part of the base at the time.
            Maj. Gen. Franklin Hagenbeck, the commander of the 10th Mountain Division, said the soldiers were taking part in air assault training that involved the reconnaissance flyover of a training area on the base. The helicopter crashed in early afternoon in a heavily wooded area.
            Two other helicopters taking part in the mission returned safely to base. Hagenbeck said there was no indication of trouble before the Black Hawk went down. Weather was described as clear.
            "By all indications, it was an accident," he said.
            The two survivors of the crash were hospitalized at Good Samaritan Center in Watertown. Spc. Dmitri Petrov was listed in critical  condition; Spc. Edwin Mejia was in serious condition with broken  bones in both legs.
            All four members of the flight crew died. Members of the 10th Aviation Regiment, they were: Capt. Christopher Britton, 27, of  Ohio; Chief Warrant Officer 3rd Kenneth Miller, 35, of California; Spc. Lucas Trip, 23, of Aurora, Colo.; and Spc. Barry Stephens, 20, of Pinson, Ala.  The seven other victims were infantrymen, all members of Charlie Company, 4th Battalion, 31st Regiment. They were: Staff Sgt. Brian Pavlich, 25, of Port Jervis, N.Y.; Sgt. John Eichenlaub Jr., 24, of South Williamsport, Pa.; Sgt. Joshua Harapko, 23, of Peoria, Ariz.; Pfc. Shawn Mayerscik, 22, of Oil City, Pa.; Pfc. Tommy Young, 20, of Knoxville, Tenn.; Pfc. Stryder Stoutenburg, 18, of Missoula, Mont.; and Pfc. Andrew Stevens, 20, of Rockingham, N.H.
              Hagenbeck stressed that while the fatal training mission was one of      hundreds conducted at the base each month, there is nothing routine  about preparing for war.
            "It's a dangerous business we're in," he said as training exercises,  which included Black Hawks, continued on Wednesday.  It was one year ago that Fort Drum saw its last loss of life in  training. In March 2002, two soldiers died and 13 were injured when  two high-explosive artillery rounds landed short of their target and  burst near a tent where soldiers were eating lunch.
            At Fort Drum on Wednesday, many had little time to reflect on the past. Soldiers were rushing about town for things they will need if deployed overseas.
            Bill McKinney, owner of a military clothing store on the edge of  Fort Drum, said his business has been swamped with orders for tan desert fatigues and other equipment necessary for the approaching war.
            Over the past few days, soldiers also have been coming in for alterations to their dress uniforms, which would be worn for the funerals of their comrades.
            "When we had the artillery accident last year, there was a lot more discussion about the deaths," McKinney said. "Now everybody is on  hyperdrive to get ready for deployment."

Staff Sgt. John Teal, 29, Dallas, TX

Quincy Lee Knox, 43, of Copperas Cove

Jason Bentley, 35, of Hurst

Warrant Officer Devon DeSouza,

I came across your website and found it to be a wonderful yet sad tribute to our soldiers. However, my husband was not listed. He was Thomas E. Retzer, Navy SEAL,  BUDs Class 198, who was killed near Gardez, Afghanistan. On June 25, 2003, he received a GSW to the head and twice in the chest during a firefight, but lived for 24 hours before succumbing to his injuries. We had been married for 7 years and have two beautiful little boys. Thank you for including him.

Sincerely,

Courtney Retzer
widow of Tom Retzer

No. 615-03 
IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
August 21, 2003 
DOD IDENTIFIES NAVY CASUALTY
The Department of Defense announced today that Petty Officer 1st Class David M. Tapper, 32, of Camden County, N.J., died of wounds received in action Aug. 20 in Afghanistan.

Spc. Lunsford B. Brown II, 27, of Creedmore, N.C.  Brown was assigned to A Company, 302nd Military Intelligence Battalion, Patton Barracks, Germany.

    Sgt. David T. Friedrich, 26, of Hammond, N.Y.  Friedrich was assigned to B Company, 325th Military Intelligence Battalion, U.S. Army Reserve, Waterbury, Conn.

 Spc. Paul J. Sturino, 21, of Rice Lake, Wis., died on Sept. 22 in Quest, Iraq.

No. 695-03 
IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
September 23, 2003
DOD IDENTIFIES ARMY CASUALTIES

            The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of four soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
            Capt. Brian R. Faunce, 28, of Philadelphia, Pa., died on Sept. 18 in Al Asad, Iraq.  Faunce was moving in a Bradley fighting vehicle when his vehicle crossed under some low laying power lines.  The soldier reached up and grabbed the lines and was fatally injured.  Faunce was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, Fort Carson, Colo.
              Two soldiers were killed in a mortar attack on Sept. 20 in Abu Gareeb, Iraq.  Killed were:
            Spc. Lunsford B. Brown II, 27, of Creedmore, N.C.  Brown was assigned to A Company, 302nd Military Intelligence Battalion, Patton Barracks, Germany.
            Sgt. David T. Friedrich, 26, of Hammond, N.Y.  Friedrich was assigned to B Company, 325th Military Intelligence Battalion, U.S. Army Reserve, Waterbury, Conn.
            Spc. Paul J. Sturino, 21, of Rice Lake, Wis., died on Sept. 22 in Quest, Iraq.  Sturino died from a non-combat weapons discharge.  Sturino was assigned to B Battery, 2nd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Campbell, Ky.
            These incidents are under investigation.

No. 704-03 
IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
September 26, 2003 
 DOD IDENTIFIES ARMY CASUALTY
The Department of Defense announced today the death of Sgt. 1st Class Robert E. Rooney, 43, of Nashua, N.H.  Rooney died on Sep. 25 at Shuabai Port, in Kuwait, when he was struck by a forklift and died of his injuries.      Rooney was assigned to the 379th Engineer Company, U.S. Army National Guard, based in Bourne, Mass.   This incident is under investigation.

No. 709-03 
IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
September 27, 2003 
DOD IDENTIFIES ARMY CASUALTY
     The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. 
     Spc. Lisa M. Andrews, 24, of Lenexa, Kan., died on Sept. 26, 2003, near Overland Park, Kan.  Andrews was on leave from her unit when she was struck and killed by a civilian vehicle as she was walking across U.S. Highway 69.
     Andrews was assigned to the 129th Transportation Company, U.S. Army Reserve, based in New Century, Kan.
     This incident is under investigation.

No. 716-03 
IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
September 30, 2003 
DOD IDENTIFIES ARMY CASUALTY
The Department of Defense announced today that Pfc. Evan W. O'Neill, 19, of Haverhill, Mass., was killed on Sept. 29 in Shkin, Afghanistan.  O'Neill was on patrol when he was engaged by enemy forces.  He died of injuries sustained during the attack.
O'Neill was assigned to 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.
The incident is under investigation.

No. 734-03  
IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
October 7, 2003  
DOD IDENTIFIES ARMY CASUALTY  
The Department of Defense announced today the death of Lt. Col. Paul W. Kimbrough, 44, of Washington, D.C. who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.  Kimbrough died on Oct. 3 in Incirlik, Turkey, of a non-combat related cause.  Kimbrough was medically evacuated from Baghram, Afghanistan, to Turkey.  He was taken to the 39th Medical Squadron where he remained hospitalized until his death.  
Kimbrough was assigned to the 416th Engineer Command, Team 28, U.S. Army Reserve, Fort Benning, Ga.

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- The search and rescue efforts being conducted for a Sailor from the Little Creek-based USS Typhoon (PC 5) were called off Nov. 10 at 8:45 a.m.

Numerous ships and assets from the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard had been conducting an exhaustive search for Engineman 2nd Class Douglas Bolles, 43, since he fell overboard from a rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) 4 a.m., Nov. 7, southeast of Cape Henry.

After assisting a Coast Guard boarding team during a homeland security boarding of a liquid gas tanker, Sailors from Typhoon returned to their ship in the RHIB and dropped off the boarding team. While the RHIB was alongside the ship to be recovered, swells first knocked Bolles into the water, followed by the RHIB capsizing and a second Sailor falling into the water. The second Sailor was recovered by Typhoon and had no injuries.

An investigation into the cause of the incident is underway.

    An Army National Guardsman from Webster with a long record of service to his community died of noncombat-related injuries while stationed at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Pentagon officials said.
  Sgt. Theodore ``Teddy'' Perrault, 33, was serving at Camp Bulkeley, where detainees suspected of having links to the Taliban or al-Qaeda are being held.
    ``It appears Perreault died of a single gunshot wound to the head, but his death is still under investigation,'' base spokeswoman Lt. Col. Pamela Hart said......

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Jason Profitt, 23, of Charlestown, Ind.

Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Darrell Jones, 22, of Wellston, Ohio

Army Pfc. Kristian E. Parker

-Operation Enduring Freedom-

Marine Corps Pfc. James R. Dillon Jr., 19, of Grove City, Pa., died
March 13, 2003, in Kuwait. Dillon died of a non-combat related injury. He was
assigned to the 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division,
Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif.
Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Jason Profitt, 23, of Charlestown, Ind., died March 17, 2003, while in the Red Sea. Profitt died of a non-combat related injury. He was assigned to the USS Deyo, home ported in Norfolk, Va. 
Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Darrell Jones, 22, of Wellston, Ohio, died Oct. 8, 2003, in Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates. Jones died of non-combat related injuries. He was assigned to the USS Higgins, home ported in San Diego, Calif. 

-Operation Iraqi Freedom-

Army Spc. Tamarra J. Ramos, 24, of Quakertown, Pa., died Oct. 1, 2003, at Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC), Washington D.C. Ramos died of non-combat related injuries. She was assigned to the 3rd Armor Medical Company, Medical Troop Regimental Support Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Carson, Colo.

Army Sgt. Linda C. Jimenez, 39, of Brooklyn, N.Y., died Nov. 8, 2003, at WRAMC. On Oct. 31, 2003, Jimenez fell and was injured. She was taken to the 28th Combat Support Hospital and later evacuated to Landstuhl Army Regional Medical Center. Subsequently, she was moved to WRAMC where she later died. Jimenez was assigned to the 2nd Squadron Combat Support Aviation (Maintenance), 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Polk, La.

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class David Sisung, 21, of Phoenix, Ariz., died June 6, 2003, while in the Persian Gulf. Sinsung died of a non-combat related injury. He was assigned to the USS Nimitz, home ported in San Diego, Calif. 

Air Force Master Sgt. David A. Scott, 51, of Union, Ohio, died as a result of a non-hostile cause on July 20, 2003, in Doha, Qatar. He was assigned to the 445th Communications Flight, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. 

-Other Correction-
The examination also disclosed that the announcement of the death of Army Pfc. Kristian E. Parker (http//www.defenselink.mil/releases/2003/nr20031001-0497.html)  was incorrectly characterized at the time as an Operation Iraqi Freedom-related death. Parker was serving as part of Operation Enduring Freedom when he died.

From USS John F. Kennedy Public Affairs

ABOARD USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (NNS) -- One Sailor died April 6, and another suffered injuries after being exposed to hydrogen sulfide, a toxic gas, while working aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67).

Hull Maintenance Technician Fireman Apprentice Daxion J. Brown, 22, of Titusville, Fla., died after being medically evacuated from the ship. Fireman Brian F. Carr of Fairland, Okla., is in critical but stable condition at Shands Hospital in Jacksonville, Fla.

The two Sailors were exposed to hydrogen sulfide toxic gas while working in a sewage pump room.

An investigation is underway.

For related news, visit the USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/cv67.

Missing Hornet Pilot from Truman Listed as Deceased

From USS Harry S. Truman Public Affairs

ABOARD USS HARRY S. TRUMAN (NNS) -- A U.S. Marine Corps pilot and F/A-18 Hornet aircraft operating from USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) were reported mis